The Old Testament prophet Zechariah referred to these two witnesses as "two olive trees", "the two
anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The term 'anointed ones' literally means,
sons of fresh oil. As 'lampstands standing before the God of the whole earth'...(Revelation 11:4)
they are full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, and burn brightly with a flame ignited by the consuming fire
of God. Their purpose is to bear witness and give a testimony. There is a strictly allotted time
period for this witness, however, therefore, they are given power to disable by death, any who
attempt to silence them by harming them. They are also provided supernatural power confirming
their ministry via ability to prevent rain, turn water to blood, and smite the earth with plagues.
anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The term 'anointed ones' literally means,
sons of fresh oil. As 'lampstands standing before the God of the whole earth'...(Revelation 11:4)
they are full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, and burn brightly with a flame ignited by the consuming fire
of God. Their purpose is to bear witness and give a testimony. There is a strictly allotted time
period for this witness, however, therefore, they are given power to disable by death, any who
attempt to silence them by harming them. They are also provided supernatural power confirming
their ministry via ability to prevent rain, turn water to blood, and smite the earth with plagues.
WHAT ARE THEIR TESTIMONIES?
Although we cannot know what the witnesses' sermons will be about word for word, we may be
able to glimpse a general idea of what their respective testimonies will be, based on their former
ministries on earth, and statements our Lord himself made about them.
Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God. How remarkably similar to the words of the Lord
Jesus Christ who said, "I do always the things that please the Father...John 8:29. Accordingly then,
we can expect that he will call the world to turn to God and obey His two greatest
commandments...to "love the Lord with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself". He can also be
expected to prophesy of the impending judgment according to his warning recorded in the Book Of
Jude. Elijah's ministry on earth exemplified God's power over the forces of nature, His power over
death, and His ability to provide miraculously for his own. Moreover, he powerfully demonstrated
the superior power of Yahweh God over Baal, thereby beginning revival amongst the people. When
he first challenged them to stop faltering between two opinions, they wouldn't even answer him.
That's how far into apostasy Israel had slipped. But after God accepted his sacrifice by fire from
heaven which consumed a bullock soaked by 12 barrels of water, the wood the sacrifice was
placed on, the water in the trench around the altar, and the altar itself, the people fell on their faces
and acknowledged that God was the Lord, and gave Him the glory. So we can expect that at least
part of Elijah's testimony will focus on the Lord Jesus Christ as the " only LORD GOD and the soon
coming Moshiach for the true Torah Jews. This testimony will be of utmost importance since the
Beast will command the worship of the masses and blaspheme God, His name, His dwelling place,
and those who dwell in heaven...(Revelation 13:4, 6) Many will 'halt' (falter) between two opinions
as they weigh whether to fear the wrath of man, and serve the Beast, or fear the wrath of God, which
is a consuming fire.
Elijah also seems to have been given the peculiar ministry of "turning the hearts of the children
back to the fathers." Who are the 'fathers'?
Many times in the scriptures, in the Old Testament as well as the New, the patriarchs of Israel are
referred to as the 'fathers'. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were spoken of in this manner, because
after the Flood, it was these men, beginning with Abraham, that God called as instruments for his
glory, and the beginnings of the nation that would bring forth the Messiah, the Redeemer of all
mankind. They were often also referred to with a certain nationalistic pride, as in the exchange
between Jesus and the Pharisees in the eighth chapter of the gospel of John and Jesus and the
woman at the well in the fourth chapter of the same book. Elijah himself alludes to this peculiar
mission in the 18th chapter of I Kings, verse 37, and it is also spoken of again in Malachi 4:5,6 in
conjunction with the Day Of The Lord. This lets us know his ministry will extend up to just before
the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a curse spoken of for the earth in these verses of Malachi if the children do not turn their
hearts to the fathers. The earth has been cursed once already because of the sin of Adam's
disobedience (Genesis 3:17), which sin was rejecting God for the lordship of Satan (his servants
you are to whom you obey). Jesus told the Jews in his day that if they were truly the sons of
Abraham, they would do the works of Abraham. A parallel sin today would be for them to reject the
Messiah when He appears. Fortunately, we know by God's unfailing word that the remnant who are
spared in the land will be purified and refined by God, and will look on Him who they have pierced,
and mourn bitterly. There will be repentance, restoration, and finally, peace.
MARTYRDOM and RESURRECTION!
When the allotted time for their testimony is completed, the two witnesses will be murdered by the
'Beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit'. Scripture tells us this murder will take place in
Jerusalem, "where also our Lord was crucified". No one will be permitted to bury them, and they
will lie in the open as a public spectacle and cause for celebration worldwide. The party will grind to
a screeching halt, however, after 3 1/2 days, when the voice of God calls them back to heaven, and
they are taken up in a cloud. Among the party-goers are the 7000 who are slated to die in the
earthquake which is to immediately follow the witnesses' evacuation.
A SUPERNATURAL WITNESS
You will remember from your Bible studying the words Jesus spoke in the Olivet discourse, "And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and
then shall the end come. For years we have been taught that it was up to (basically) our
missionaries to reach all the lost. Many feel that has been sufficiently done and they can rest on
their laurels now and await the return of Christ. But has everyone really heard? What about in
places like North Korea where the preaching of the gospel is strictly forbidden and punishable by
death or imprisonment? You couldn't get in there to preach if you wanted to. Yes, there are still
many places in the world where people can be born, live, and die, and never see a missionary, a
church, or a bible. Yet Jesus says all nations must be witnessed to. How then, is this to be
accomplished?
Do you remember a very significant event that occurred on the day of Pentecost? Jews who had
their native roots in many different parts of the world were suddenly able to hear God being glorified
in their own native tongue!
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were
confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And
they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these
which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we
were born? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt,
and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
God.
If God accomplished this over 2000 years ago on a Pentecost Day, He can surely bring
it to pass again through the ministry of the Two Witnesses. God is not willing that any
should perish, He will go to the utmost length to reach the lost...there is no such thing
as a language barrier with God. How exciting to have a sneak preview of the
wonder-working power of God!
PROOF POSITIVE OF A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY
How can we know for sure that the witnesses will have a successful ministry that brings forth
much fruit? The proof is found in 7th chapter of Revelation, verses 9-17.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and
kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and
fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,
and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white
robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and
he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
CONCLUSION
As saints of the True and Living God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we should be encouraged
by the example of the Two Witnesses. The fact that God has already declared the end from the
beginning and informed us of their history, His intervention, their future ministry, and His ultimate
faithfulness should be cause for us to persevere and stand boldly in the days to come. Many of us
may not live to see their tenure, but we should prepare ourselves anyway to testify as they will, and
to love not our lives unto the death. Remember, Elijah had feelings just like us, he got weary, he got
discouraged. Enoch was a husband and father. Family life in a decadent society brings its share of
frustration and grief. Both of these brothers in the Lord (for that is what they are to us!) faced the
fury of Satan manifested through people, yet remained faithful to the end. If they can do it, so can
we.
Let's strive to walk like Enoch, dedicated, pleasing God, and warning others of the judgment to
come. Let's strive to walk like Elijah, whose God is the Lord, with a zeal for the holiness of God and
faith enough that God might work miracles through us, should He so desire.
When the allotted time for their testimony is completed, the two witnesses will be murdered by the
'Beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit'. Scripture tells us this murder will take place in
Jerusalem, "where also our Lord was crucified". No one will be permitted to bury them, and they
will lie in the open as a public spectacle and cause for celebration worldwide. The party will grind to
a screeching halt, however, after 3 1/2 days, when the voice of God calls them back to heaven, and
they are taken up in a cloud. Among the party-goers are the 7000 who are slated to die in the
earthquake which is to immediately follow the witnesses' evacuation.
A SUPERNATURAL WITNESS
You will remember from your Bible studying the words Jesus spoke in the Olivet discourse, "And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and
then shall the end come. For years we have been taught that it was up to (basically) our
missionaries to reach all the lost. Many feel that has been sufficiently done and they can rest on
their laurels now and await the return of Christ. But has everyone really heard? What about in
places like North Korea where the preaching of the gospel is strictly forbidden and punishable by
death or imprisonment? You couldn't get in there to preach if you wanted to. Yes, there are still
many places in the world where people can be born, live, and die, and never see a missionary, a
church, or a bible. Yet Jesus says all nations must be witnessed to. How then, is this to be
accomplished?
Do you remember a very significant event that occurred on the day of Pentecost? Jews who had
their native roots in many different parts of the world were suddenly able to hear God being glorified
in their own native tongue!
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were
confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And
they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these
which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we
were born? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt,
and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
God.
If God accomplished this over 2000 years ago on a Pentecost Day, He can surely bring
it to pass again through the ministry of the Two Witnesses. God is not willing that any
should perish, He will go to the utmost length to reach the lost...there is no such thing
as a language barrier with God. How exciting to have a sneak preview of the
wonder-working power of God!
PROOF POSITIVE OF A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY
How can we know for sure that the witnesses will have a successful ministry that brings forth
much fruit? The proof is found in 7th chapter of Revelation, verses 9-17.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and
kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and
fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,
and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white
robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and
he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
CONCLUSION
As saints of the True and Living God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we should be encouraged
by the example of the Two Witnesses. The fact that God has already declared the end from the
beginning and informed us of their history, His intervention, their future ministry, and His ultimate
faithfulness should be cause for us to persevere and stand boldly in the days to come. Many of us
may not live to see their tenure, but we should prepare ourselves anyway to testify as they will, and
to love not our lives unto the death. Remember, Elijah had feelings just like us, he got weary, he got
discouraged. Enoch was a husband and father. Family life in a decadent society brings its share of
frustration and grief. Both of these brothers in the Lord (for that is what they are to us!) faced the
fury of Satan manifested through people, yet remained faithful to the end. If they can do it, so can
we.
Let's strive to walk like Enoch, dedicated, pleasing God, and warning others of the judgment to
come. Let's strive to walk like Elijah, whose God is the Lord, with a zeal for the holiness of God and
faith enough that God might work miracles through us, should He so desire.
©2003-2006 www.thecalmbeforethestorm.com
| MINISTRY |